Dairy Farmers of America · 4 months ago
Director, Quality & Technical Services
Joplin, MO
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expDairy Farmers of America is seeking a Director of Quality & Technical Services to lead quality initiatives and ensure compliance with food safety standards. The role involves managing quality assurance programs, collaborating with various departments, and driving continuous improvement in food safety and quality processes.
AgricultureDairyDietary SupplementsFood Processing
Responsibilities
Champion a culture of excellence with emphasis on food safety and integrity. Drive engagement through servant leadership
Create high performing teams that are customer centric and focused on preventive risk mitigation and predictive analytics. Develop and grow team in a sustainable manner
Function as a key contributor to help shape the strategies, programs, and processes for food safety and quality (FSQ)
Collaborate and work in tandem with R&D, sales, operations, BU leadership, and other stakeholders
Serve as the FSQ contact for customers. Provide support for issue resolution, technical inquiries and metric management. Ensure compliance to customer agreements and monitor trends in data that may lead to rejection or non-compliance. Put preventive programs in place as needed
Create a strong partnership with manufacturing leadership and drive alignment regarding current state and any future planning/action regarding FSQ programs, capital needs, and optimization of processes
Leverage data analytics to improve efficiencies, optimize cost of quality and minimize the cost of nonconformance
Provide timely communication, KPI reports and written summaries regarding projects, mitigation activities, findings and compliance to programs/policies (short, mid and long-range goals)
Manage the food safety systems and quality assurance programs for assigned facilities to deliver against customer and regulatory requirements
Ensure food safety and quality plans are current, relevant, and are being followed and implemented. Ensure all preventive control (PC’s) and critical control points (CCP’s) are appropriate and records are complete and accurate
Lead serious issue management as it relates to assigned facilities
Apply knowledge of QC requirements, ensure application of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) to laboratory operations, support accuracy/precision, appropriateness of testing methodologies, proficiency and analytical results. Verify quality control (QC) programs at manufacturing sites are effectively and efficiently supporting production management
Monitor plant environmental monitoring programs and verify that their corrective actions and hygiene/sanitation programs are robust and mitigating risk. Provide leadership in mitigation activities
Proactively drive continuous improvement by understanding the gaps, reviewing trends, and data analytics. Ensure root cause analysis/corrective and preventive actions (RCA/CAPAs) are robust and actions are closed in a timely manner. Work with the plant and operations on any items that require capital and ensure the completion of those requests
Support the planning, due diligence, construction, and commercialization of new plant or existing plant expansions
Provide direction and support to sanitation efforts. Ensure quality managers review plant service reports and ensure action on any suggestions from the external representatives. Work with the sanitarians to ensure continued training and education of chemical use, software, SSOP practices, and sanitation verification activities
Strategically build and manage the supply quality program and supplier expectations to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and support business unit (BU) initiatives
Ensure assessors are calibrated and well versed in the materials and processes they are assessing and the quality of work is exceptional
Partner with procurement, logistics, and business units to create audit plans, review non-conformances, and identify strategic suppliers to develop
Partner with R&D, regulatory services, and business units to establish and maintain compliance with raw material and product contact packaging quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements
Develop and deliver supply quality training programs to the core and extended teams. Develop subject matter expertise in key risk management (RM) categories allowing assessors to be well versed in process technology, visiting multiple vendors, understanding risks, assessing mitigation strategies, and documenting knowledge to share and leverage across the organization. Build tool kits to capture key learnings
Function as a technical liaison with vendors and internal quality partners
Harness knowledge from external technical and reference organization's and propagate learning, trends, and best practices internally and externally (e.g., with identified trade associations)
Develop and manage the vendor non-conformance program. Drive Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) and closed loop corrective action
Define procedures and guidelines to support the supply quality program
Build raw material ingredient and product contact packaging quality program within DFA. Build robust and comprehensive RM Specification Program
Define procedures and guidelines for food fraud vulnerability assessment program and horizon-scanning
Manage the risk assessment program for warehouses and co-manufacturers. Provide metrics and detailed risk assessment plans
Develop performance improvement programs in areas where vendor performance is falling short of requirements
Execute supplier/vendor assessments. Schedule and manage assessors and schedule assessments for new vendors and re-approval of current vendors. Define assessment plans
Qualify raw materials by reviewing the food safety plans, validating CCPs, PC’s, and/or OPRPs, testing raw material for compliance to specification, and ensuring the supplier has capability to manage the hazards defined for the raw material to be approved
Develop Hazard Analysis Risk Assessment Matrix. Drive risk-based assessment priorities
Participate in food safety risk assessment and infrastructure evaluation as needed. Work with quality managers to ensure action plans are developed and completed in a timely manner in tandem with the food safety team
Support R&D, operations, and the business on evaluating new opportunities. Provide risk-based evaluations and customer driven solutions. Provide support and guidance for product commercialization
Demonstrate knowledge on US and international regulations (if applicable)
Adequately interpret regulations, educate the business on regulations, and ensure compliance to the regulations through compliance verification
Perform management activities such as administering employee promotions and transfers; conducting ongoing performance conversations; mentoring, training, and coaching employees
Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements
The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required
Qualification
Required
Undergraduate degree in food science, biological sciences, or related curriculum (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
10 or more years of FSQ or related experience within the food and beverage industry, preferably within the dairy category, coupled with 2+ years of management experience
Experience working in a manufacturing plant and operating in a centralized FSQ role
Experience in a senior FSQ role with multi-plant experience supplying domestic and international markets (if applicable)
Experience with manufacturing technologies, food safety, quality systems, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, quality control, product commercialization, and customer engagement
Comprehensive knowledge in manufacturing technologies, regulatory compliance, product development, food safety, quality control and risk mitigation
Exceptional leadership and coaching skills
Able to manage quality processes and methods in multiple locations and maintain consistency and compliance with all applicable regulations
Able to work and communicate with people at all levels of the organization
Able to demonstrate excellent troubleshooting, problem-solving, and follow-up skills
Able to organize and prioritize resources to achieve goals
Able to translate accounting, financial, and KPI data into plant performance and determine steps to correct and improve
Able to take appropriate steps to find solutions to complex problems
Able to present options and ideas to current processes or procedures
Able to handle challenging or conflict situations with tact and professionalism
Able to lead others through change effectively
Must be able to read, write and speak English
Preferred
Master of Science in food science or microbiology preferred
Experience with manufacturing technologies, food safety, quality systems, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, quality control, product commercialization, and customer engagement
Certification and/or License - PCQI, HACCP, SQF Practitioner certifications preferred; may be required during course of employment
Company
Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Farmers of America is a milk marketing cooperative owned and served by farmers across the nation.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Dairy Farmers of America has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (6)
2023 (1)
2022 (2)
2021 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$45MKey Investors
U.S. Department of Agriculture
2022-09-15Grant· $45M
Leadership Team
Dennis Rodenbaugh
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Jones
Division Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
2025-12-15
Family Features
2025-11-04
Company data provided by crunchbase